The GMARS has double the firepower of the HIMARS, with which it shares many similarities. (Janes/Christopher Petrov)
Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin have showcased their Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System (GMARS) at the Eurosatory 2024 defence exhibition held in Paris from 17 to 21 June.
Presented on an 8×8 Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles (RMMV) HX2 truck platform, the system is a protected cabin with space for two crew members with an option for one more. The launcher can store two missile pods and fire a range of munitions, from the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) to the various Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles. With the GMLRS pods, as presented at Eurosatory 2024, the system has up to 12 missiles to fire.
Rheinmetall says the system weighs below 40 tonnes with road speeds of up to 100 km/h, and a range of up to 700 km. It is 2.5 m wide, 3.9 m high (with the missile pod stowed), and 9.8 m long. The truck does not appear to be equipped with outriggers.
The GMARS shares pods, ammunition, and a fire-control system with the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and the M270A2. A representative from Rheinmetall said that the system would have a position navigation assembly (PNA), which is unique to each user. The PNA would use GPS to know exactly where the rocket launcher is, so it can calculate how to guide the missile from its known firing point.
For more information on the development of the GMARS, please see Lockheed Martin signs new co-operation agreement with Rheinmetall .
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